NATIONAL NEWS - The Western Cape's so-called green economy is expected to create 12,000 jobs in the next three years, economic development MEC Alan Winde said on Monday.
He said the sector employed 3000 people in 2010 and was projected to employ 12,000 by 2015, 16,000 by 2020, and 20,000 by 2025.
"The majority of job opportunities are projected to be created through the manufacturing of components for the renewable energy sector."
The province and its funded agency, Green Cape, were in discussions to implement smart energy grids.
"[These] would enable individual firms and households to install hybrid energy generation systems and feed excess power into the grid."
Winde said not reducing the province's carbon footprint would drastically reduce its ability to trade locally and internationally.
"Economic growth puts strain on our infrastructure; we need to find innovative and economical ways to better manage our natural resources, especially our electricity use, and the way we dispose of our waste."
Source : Sapa
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